Vehicle door controlling mechanism



B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR CONTROLLING MECHANISM Jan. 23, 1940.

Filed May '7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Search Hoom Jan. 23, 1940. B. J.CRAIG I VEHICLE DOOR CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1938 5Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

Mid! bll HUUHI Jan. 23, 1940. B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR CONTROLLINGMECHANISM Filed May '7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I ZNVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 25 Claims.

This invention relates to door latching, closing and controllingmechanism which is particularly, although not exclusively, adapted foruse in connection with the doors of automotive vehicles, a generalobject being to provide a mechanism including cooperating parts adaptedto be mounted upon the door and/or frame and/or body pillar with theparts acting in improved and effective manner so that the door may beclosed quietly and be opened easily.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a door controlmechanism for an automotive vehicle which enables the passenger tosettle himself comfortably and then easily swing the door by unimpededmovement to a partially closed position whereupon the door will beautomatically moved, quickly and quietly, to fully closed position.

Efforts heretofore made to provide closing means for automotive vehicledoors have been found unsuccessful due to structural and operatingconditions present in such doors which are not present in doors onstationary objects such as buildings.

Automotive vehicle doors, due to manufacturing tolerances permitted, aresomewhat loosely mounted and are held tightly latched against resilientbumpers to prevent rattling. This requires thatthe door be moved tolatching position against a strong force exerted by the bumpers whichtend to open the door and since the bumpers are compressed onlymomentarily, the latch bolt must be quickly projected otherwise thebumpers force the door open before the bolt is secure.

This requires the use of a strong spring for urging the bolt to latchingposition and as a result considerable force is required to cause thebolt to be retracted as it passes over the strike in the closingoperation and again to retract the bolt by operation of the handle inopening the door. If a weak spring is employed for the bolt the lattermay not move to latching position during the interval while the bumpersare compressed and also with a light spring accidental opening, oropening by children, becomes a hazard. It has also been foundobjectionable that the latch bolt frequently is not fully projected andas a result the door handle sags and consequently the roll back may notfunction smoothly and various means have been proposed seeking toovercome these objections.

Automatic closers for the doors of automotive vehicles which are strongenough to compress the bumpers require mechanism strong enough toaccelerate the door through a large angle to build up speed in the dooror require the use of an auxiliary spring which becomes effective nearthe end of the closing movement of the door. This requirement usuallynecessitates construction of a type of closer which starts the closingaction as soon as the door is released and before the passenger issettled and before his hands are out of the way, which is of courseobjectionable. The use of manually controlled means to prevent prematureclosing has been suggested but not widely used.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel control meansfor the doors of automotive vehicles which overcomes or minimizes theobjections noted and which in addition has other advantages.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a doorconstruction" for an automotive vehicle including a latch wherein inlatching the bolt is first engaged after which the bumper is placedunder full compression.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel closing means forthe door of an automotive vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel latching meansfor the door of an automotive vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combined check andlatching means for the door of an automotive vehicle.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel combinedcheck, closing and latching means for the door of an automotive vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel finger tipcontrol for the latch of the door of an automotive vehicle.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel bumperconstruction for an automotive vehicle door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, speed controlled,latching means for the door of an automotive vehicle.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automotive vehicle showingthe invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the latch;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the latch;

Fig. 4 is a. section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the control member;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, with parts in section, showing thelatch bolt retracted and the door about to be opened;

Fig. 7 is an elevation, with parts in section, showing the door controldevice with the spring energized and the door being opened;

Fig. 8 is an elevation, with parts in section, after the first toggleaction is completed;

Fig. 9 is an elevation with parts in section showing the control memberafter being energized by the vacuum cylinder;

Fig. 10 is a section through the door showing the position assumed whenthe door is fully closed;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line of Fi Fig. 12 is a section taken online |2|2 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a central sectional view showing the governor;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line |4|4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section taken on line |5-|5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line |6-|6 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are fragmentary plan views showing the boltcontrol member in different positions;

Fig. 21 is a wiring diagram;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing amodification and wherein the door is completely closed;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing theposition assumed when the bumper control member has been retracted; and

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary section, partly in elevation, showing theposition assumed when the spring has just been energized and the door isbeing opened wider.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters the invention is shownas embodied in a door control mechanism which is indicated generally atl0 and is shown as mounted upon an automotive vehicle indicated at H.

The vehicle shown has a body I2 of the sedan type, and includes doors |3pivotally mounted on hinges I4, secured to the door frame, to swingtowards and from body pillars l5. The vehicle is supported on wheels l6and includes an engine I? shown as having an intake manifold l8. Thedoor control mechanism l0 as shown includes door operating or controldevices l9, bumper devices 20 and latch devices 2|.

The door operating or control devices l9 each includes a traction member22 mounted to slide between tongues 23 on a supporting plate 24 which asshown includes a bottom flange 25 and an end flange 26 which are securedto the bottom and side respectively of the door. The traction member ispivoted to a link 21 (see Fig. 1) which in turn is pivoted to a bracket28 shown as secured to the door frame so that as the door opens andcloses the traction member slides back and forth on the door.

The traction member 22 is provided with an elongated slot 29 to receivea roller 3|] mounted on a pin 3| (see Fig. 14) secured to the plate 24.The roller 30 preferably has a. thickness substantially equal to that ofthe traction member and the pin 3| projects beyond the roller where itis enlarged to pivotally support a lever 32 one end 33 of which includesteeth 34 which are engaged by a dog 35 mounted on a pin 36 which issecured to a tongue 31 bent up from the plate 24. A trip 38 is mountedon the pin 36 and the construction is such that when the trip is movedin one direction by engagement with a pin 39 on the traction member 22 ashoulder 40 on the trip moves the dog 35 from the engaged tooth 34 andon a return movement of the traction member the pin 39 rocks the trip 38without shifting the dog. A spring 4| normally urges both the dog andtrip to normal position.

A spring 42 shown as mounted on the pin 3| engages and urges the lever32 in an anti-clockwise direction. The lever 32 as shown has a roller 43(see Fig. 5) thereon which is fitted in a slot 44 in one end of an arm45 which is pivoted on a pin 46 on the plate 24 and which at its otherend has a slot 41 which receives a roller 48 on a rod 49 on a piston 50arranged in a vacuum cylinder 5| which is made of suitable size and isshown as connected by a pipe 52 to a tank 53 (Fig. 1) which communicatesthrough a pipe 54 with the intake manifold H.

The pipe 54 includes a three-way valve 55 which allows flow through thepipe 52 or which opens the pipe 52 to the atmosphere. A rod 56 alongwhich the piston slides includes a valve aperture 56a which intersectsthe pipe 52 when the rod is in one position and which closescommunication through the pipe 52 when in another position. When ashoulder 51 at the end of the rod 56 engages the outer face of thepiston 50 it shifts the rod and opens communication through the valveaperture 56a. The construction is such that when the valve 55 is in oneposition and the door has been closed (in a manner to be laterdescribed) the arm 45 during the door closing is rocked by movement ofthe lever 32 so that the piston 50 will engage the shoulder 51 to movethe rod 56 thus opening the valve aperture 56a and causing the partialvacuum in the tank 53 to move the piston 50 inwardly thus cooking orenergizing the spring 42. At the time the dog 35 enters the last tooth34 on the lever 32 the valve 56a is closed by engagement of the piston50 with a shoulder 59 on the rod 56.

When the valve 55 is turned to its second position the pipe 52 is opento the atmosphere so that the cylinder 5| is not efiective to cook thespring,

The end of the lever 32 remote from the teeth 34 is pivoted as at 60 toa second lever 6| which includes an elongated slot 62 having an offsetportion 63 forming a shoulder 64. A roller 65 mounted on a pin 65secured on the traction member 22 is disposed in the slot 62 and in theposition shown in Fig. 8 engages the shoulder 64. The second lever 6|includes an end 61 and a shoulder 68.

The shoulder 68. when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, isspaced a slight distance above from a roller 69 mounted on a pin 10which is disposed on a rocker arm 1| pivoted as at 12 to the plate 24. Aspring 13 which is shown as mounted on the pivot 80 engages a pin 13a tourge the lever 6| downwardly.

As shown the traction member 22 is provided with a notch 14 which isadapted to receive a dog pivoted as at 76 to the plate 24 and normallyurged downwardly by a spring 11. The notch 14 and dog 15, when employed,are so disposed that the dog engages the notch when the door is closedto thus provide a safety catch for the door.

In order to releasably hold the door in open position the tractionmember 22 is shown as provided with a notch I8 which, when the doorapproaches its fully open position, is engaged by a dog I9 pivoted as at80 to the plate 24. A spring 8| normally urges the dog 19 downwardly.When the dog 19 is employed and the door is opened the dog I9 engages inthe notch I8 to hold the door against closing until suflicient pressureis applied to the door to cause the spring 8| to release the dog.

The length of the slot 29 is shown as such that the roller 30 engagesthe end 83 of the slot when the door is fully opened and thus serves asa door check. This checking action, when employed, is resilient sincewhen the roller 30 engages the end 83 of the slot the lever 6I rocks thelever 32 about its pivot thus further compressing the spring 42. Thecushioning effect thus produced, however, is of such a character that itdoes not cause the door to suddenly fly back with consequent danger.

In order to assist in the closing operation the lever 8I may include aprojecting end 84 which (Fig. 8) engages a portion 85 of a cam member 88which is pivoted as at 81 to the plate 24 and which includes a cam face88 (see Fig. 11) adapted to engage a strike 89 to thus cam the door tofully closed position, as will be later described. A spring 90 normallyurges the arm 88 away from the strike 89.

A control member 9| extends along the inner face of the outer edge ofthe door and at its lower and engages a pin 93 on the rocker arm IIpreviously described. A spring 94 on the plate 24 normally urges thecontrol member 9| upwardly. The control member 9| includes a tongue 95which engages the end of the dog I5 so that when the control membermoves upwardly the dog I5 is lifted from the notch I4. The spring 94 is,of course, stronger than the spring 11.

The control member 8| has a plurality of pins 98 thereon which engage inslots 91 (see Fig. 10) in pivoted bell crank members 98 for operatingeach bumper device 20 previously mentioned.

The bumper devices 20 are spaced apart on the door and as shown arealike each device including an attaching plate 99 which is suitablysecured to the outer end of the door. Each plate 99 supports a pluralityof pins I on which a slide ml is mounted. This slide IOI includes (seeFigs. 12 and 15) a projecting bumper portion I02 which may include aresilient face I03. The slide IOI includes a projecting pin I04 whichengages in a slot I in the bell crank 98.

The result of the described construction is that when the control member9I is moved downwardly the slide members IOI are shifted thus urging thebumpers towards the pillar I5. The pillar I5 may include a surface I06(see Fig. 15) which may be of a contour to form a cam face which whenengaged by the bumper face I03 tends to urge the door upwardly.

The door control described may be used with a standard latch mechanismalthough it is preferably employed with the latch device 2| which willnow be described.

The latch device 2| includes a plate IIO having a flange III suitablysecuredupon the door. The sliding latch member indicated at H2 iscontrolled by a roll back II3 which is actuated by the outside doorhandle II4. A remote control handle II5 shifts an actuator III; whichwhen the remote handle is turned in one direcand is urged by a springI2I to engage a tongue I22 on the control member 9I to hold the controlmember with the bumpers engaged.

In the present invention, as shown, a spring .I23 normally urges thelatch member against a silencing bumper I24 which is held against theflange III by a tongue I26. The spring I23 is preferably a light springwhich enables a door bolt to be retracted easily and quickly.

The use of a light, easily controlled spring to urge the bolt member toengaged position if left unguarded might produce a condition in certaincircumstances which while the vehicle was running would permit the doorto open accidentally or might allow it to be opened by curious persons,

such as children, pressing the finger tip control 25 to be laterdescribed.

To overcome this possibility I provide a novel speed control for thelatch member. As shown e construction includes a spring I on the.

plate H0 and which is disposed adjacent to the 30 latch member H2 in thepath of movement of a retractable pin I3I. This pin I3I is normally insuch a position that should the latch member be shifted in opening thedoor the pin I3I would engage the spring I30 thus requiring that bothsprings I23 and I30 be tensioned in opening the door.

The pin I3I is normally out of direct engagement with the spring I30,the latter engaging,

a stop I32 on the plate no so that the spring and pin are spaced apart,as at I33. The pin I3I is normally free to fall by gravity to a positionso that it may engage the spring I30 and is also normally urged to theposition shown in Fig. 2 by a spring tinuous with the core I35 of asolenoid I38 which is mounted on the latch member II2, the constructionbeing such that when the solenoid is energized the pin I3I will be movedfrom its nor- I34. The pin I3I is shown as con- 45 mai position to alocation out of the path of 50 movement of the spring I30.

It will be noted that when the solenoid I38 is energized only the springI23 need be flexed to slide the latch member.

In order to control the solenoid and thus vary 55 the tension requiredto retract the latch member a speed responsive device is employed. Thisdevice is shown as a governor I40 (see Fig. 13) connected to thespeedometer drive shaft I4I. It

will be understood that the speedometer shaft and the governor aremerely illustrative of one device responsive to the speed of the vehicleor its driving means.

The governor I40, as shown, includes a body I 42 having a closure I43thereon at one end and having a plug closure I44 at the other end. Thebody includes a shaft I45 which rotates therein and which at the endsincludes couplings I48 of any desired type, by means of which the shaftI45 is coupled to the speedometer shaft MI.

The shaft I45 includes a collar I41 fixed thereon and a second collarI48 slidable thereon. the collars being urged apart by a spring I48. Thecollars are connected by pivoted arms I50 which have weights I5I thereonand the construction is such that when the shaft I revolves the weightsI5I move outwardly thus compressing the spring and shifting the movablecollar I48. The tension of the spring I49 determines the shifting of themovable collar so that the latter is moved from its extreme positionwhen the speedometer shaft rotates at a predetermined speed. The collarI48 has an insulating portion on which a metal circuit closer I52 ismounted. The circuit closer I52 when the spring urges it to operativeposition engages contact pins I53 in the body I42.

One of the pins I53 is connected by a lead I54 (see Fig. 21) with abattery I 55 which is grounded as at I56. The other pin I53 is connectedby a lead I51 with a contact I58 on each door. Since all the doors arepreferably alike but one will be described. Each contact I58 is arrangedadjacent to a second contact I59 which is connected by a lead I60 withthe solenoid I36 which is grounded at I6I. A circuit closer I62 adaptedto bridge the contacts I58 and I59 is mounted on a finger tip controlmember I63 which, as shown, passes through an aperture in the garnishmolding I64 inside of the window.

The finger tip control member I63 at its lower end pivotally engages atI65 a projection I66 on the roll back II 3. The projection I66 includesa portion I61 which engages an angularly disposed portion I68 of the dogH9 and the construction is such that when a push button I69 at the upperend of the finger tip control member I63 is depressed it rocks the dogII9 against the tension of the spring I2I to thereby release the controlmember 9|.

The finger tip control member I63, as shown, may be operated by a pushbutton I10 disposed on the outside of the door and which is connected tothe control member I63 by a U-shaped member I1I which extends around theend of the window as shown in Fig. 16. The dog I I9 normally holds thefinger tip control member I63 in the raised position shown in Fig. 2.

The present construction thus provides a finger tip door control whichoperates independent of the usual door handles I I4 and I I5 and which0perates without drain on the battery since no current flows from thebattery except during the interval when the bolt is being retracted.Since there is normally no pressure on the pin I3I except that of thespring I34 the pin I3I can be moved by a small solenoid. When thevehicle is in motion the spring I30 remains coupled with the latchmember. In this condition it is neces sary to actuate the door handleswith the usual force to open th door.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when any one ofthe members II4, I69 or I10 is operated, when the door is latched, thatthe first result will be that the dog II9 will be released thus freeingthe control member 9| whereupon the bumpers 20 will be released and thefriction between the bolt H8 and its strike will be decreased. Thisrelease of bumper pressure occurs before the latch member starts itsmovement so that in moving the latch member only the spring pressuremust be overcome.

The roll back portion I66 includes a tongue I12 which fits in a notch I13 in the latch member I I2 and which when the latch member is shiftedby the remote control I I5 causes the roll back to be shifted thusfreeing the dog II9. When the remote control handle I I5 is moved itfirst pulls the latch member while still fully engaged with its strikeuntil the dog H9 is released. This initial movement of the inside remotecontrol handle II5 when the vehicle is in motion requires much force sothat accidents are avoided.

When the remote control H5 is operated with the governor in condition toclose the circuit to the contacts I58 (as when the vehicle is at rest)the closer I62 will be pulled down as the roll back is moved to therebybridge the contacts I58 and I59 and thus energize the solenoid andwithdraw the pin I3I. Under this condition a light force on the remotecontrol handle will actuate the latch member II2 to door openingposition since the pin I3I is withdrawn from the path of the spring I30.

It will be understood that full movement of any of the members H4, H5,I69 or I10 will move the portion I14 of the roll back causing it to pushthe latch member H2 and its bolt end II 8 to disengaged position.

When the vehicle is at rest or is moving so slowly that the circuit isclosed through the governor I40 the circuit is closed (as a preliminaryto withdrawal of the latch member) through the contacts I58 and I59, thepin I3I is withdrawn whereby the spring I 30 is inefiective to retardthe action of the roll back, and since the bumpers have been releasedthe light spring I23 only need to be overcome before the door is openedso that a finger tip pressure on the members I69 or I10 is all that needbe employed when it is safe to open the door. It will also be understoodthat when the vehicle is at rest or is moving slowly the handles I I4and H5 may if desired be employed to open the door and that under thiscondition these handles will be movable by finger pressure.

When it is dangerous for the door to be opened the opening actionrequires that the springs I23 and I30 both be tensioned and also thatthe friction between the bolt and its strike be overcome. This openingaction can be made to require so much force on the remote control handleas to almost prevent opening the door while the vehicle is in motion,thus the objection to riding in a vehicle with the doors locked isovercome. The diificulty in moving the usual latch member to open thedoor is a source of annoyance to many and the present invention alsoovercomes this annoyance without sacrifice of safety.

The control member BI is spaced slightly above the plate H0 and includesa portion I which has an outwardly directed tongue I8I (see Figs. 17 to20) which is disposed in the path of a bent up tongue I82 on the latchmember II2 so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 17the tongue I8I engages the tongue I 82 to prevent movement of the latchmember so that the latter is held retracted. As a result the latch bolt-end II 8 is concealed during the entire time the door is open so thatany grease on the bolt end cannot soil the clothing or person of thepas-1 senger leaving or entering the vehicle.

As soon as the control member 9I has been shifted downwardly by thetoggle the tongue I8I passes below the tongue I82 to the position shownin Fig. 18 so that latch member H2 is free to advance to engagedposition. To prevent the control member 9| from shifting the bumperbefore the latch member is fully advanced the control member is providedwith an upwardly extending portion I83 which passes over the latchmember H2 and beneath the tongue I82. The tongue I82 has a curved upperedge I84 which is engaged by an outwardly directed tongue I85 on theportion I88.

It will thus be apparent that when the control member 9| is moved downby the rocker arm II through action of the toggle that the firstmovement will shift the control member thus causing the tongue I8I to bedisengaged from the tongue I82 to release the latch member H2. The samemovement brings the tongue I85 into engagement with the curved edge I84on the tongue I82 and thus temporarily arrests further movement of thecontrol member 9I until the tongue I82 on the latch member clears thetongue I85, whereupon the control member is free to move downwardly tothe position shown in Fig. 19. The tongue I85 arrests movement of thetoggle when the leverage is slight so that there is no undue amount ofbinding between the tongues. After the dog H9 is released the tonguesI8I, I82 and I85 assume the position shown in Fig. 20.

The operation of the device is as follows: assuming that the passengerhas entered the vehicle and has settled himself comfortably. He thengently pulls the door towards closed position. With the spring 42energized and with the latch member I I2 approaching itscooperatingstrike and (if desired) with the parts so constructed that the door isin a position where the fingers can not be disposed between door andframe a slight movement of the door towards closed position causes thepin 39 to release the dog 35 thus allowing the lever 32 to rock aboutits pivot 3I (as shown in Fig. 9) thus shifting the second lever 6|about the axis of the roller 65 and thus advancing the roller 65 andconsequently advancing the traction member 22 to move the door towardsmore fully closed position so that the latch bolt end II8 rides over itsstrike and engages. The resultant action between levers 32 and 6|constitutes a toggle effect with the power increasing as the togglestraightens thus forcing the door to latched position.

In the construction shown wherein the cam arm 86 is included the end 84of the lever 6I rocks the arm 86 so that the cam surface 88 acts on thestrike 89 at the edge of the door remote from the hinge to move the doorclosed while at the same time the traction member is acting at the hingeside of the door to pull the door closed. The movement describedcontinues until the first toggle is straightened.

During this act the roller 69 has become engaged with the shoulder 68 sothat a second toggle effect is produced by the tendency of the spring 42to further shift the lever 32. The double toggle action, as described,twice affords a maximum leverage, first to latch the door and then totighten the bumpers so that the necessary force to perform the latchingoperation is provided by a single member which can be readily energized.

Continuing with the operation, the lever 6I rocks the arm II and in turnshifts the control member 9| downwardly causing the bumpers to be movedinto engagement with their associated pillar portions. At this time thedog I5 (if employed) is engaged as is the dog II9 pivoted to the latchplate III). This dog II9 engages the control member 9I to hold thelatter with the bumpers engaged.

At this position the lever 6| engages a pin I86 (see Fig. 5) on theplate 24 and thus when the pin 69 continues to move beyond thestraightened position of the second toggle the lever 6I rocks about thepin I86 so that the outer end of the lever 6I is raised thus moving theroller 66 out 0f the path to the shoulder 64 and also freeing the roller69 from the shoulder 68. The arrangement is such that the roller 66 isfree to enter the slot 62 and the roller 69 is disposed below theshoulder 68.

The spring 98 normally urges the cam member 86 inwardly so that when thelever 6| is rocked about the pin I86 the end 84 of the lever 6| israised above the portion 85 on the cam member 86 thus allowing the cammember to be withdrawn by its spring 90. The bumpers 28 remain in thetightly compressed and engaged position in which they have been placedand so tend to push the door open thus urging the latch bolt tightlyagainst the strike.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the bumpers are not undercompression while the latch is being engaged so that there is norequirement for a sudden advance of the latch member before the bumpersreact and as a result there is no requirement for a heavy spring. Thedoor is usually opened by operation of the finger tip control with thespring I23 alone functioning and as a result the pressure required toclose the door is slight and also the blow of the latch member isreduced with consequent sound decrease and as a result a latch isprovided which enables the door to be closed without slamming and bywhich the door can be readily opened.

After the door has been latched the parts assume the normal closedposition. If the vehicle is in rapid motion it is then necessary to turnone of the door handles H4 or II5 to withdraw the latch member so thatthe door may be opened. If the vehicle is moving slowly or is at rest, afinger tip pressure on one of the members I69 or I18 will release thedoor.

When the valve 55 is set to render the cylinder 5I inoperative toenergize the spring 42, the opening of a door causes the roller 66 onthe traction member 22 to move in the slot 62 while the upper portion ofthe lever 32 which constitutes a cam surface I8! is engaged by a rollerI88 mounted on a pin I89 on the traction member. This roller I88 urgesthe toothed end of the lever 32 downwardly thus tensiom'ng the spring42. This action continues until the spring is completely energizedwhereupon the dog 35 engages the last tooth 34 on the end of the lever32 and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 7.

The spring energizing operation just described may occur while the dooris being moved through approximately although the angle may be varied.Further opening of the door causes the roller I88 to move over therounded end I90 of the lever 32 so that as the door is swung toextremely wide position there is no further energizing of the spring andfree movement occurs in both directions. When the door is being closedthe roller I88 passes over the rounded end I90 mentioned and thetraction member moves along the door until the pin 39 thereon shifts thedog and releases the toggle member for action as previously described.

When the valve is set to render the cylinder 5| operative to energizethe spring 42 the piston 50 causes the spring cocking operation (whichhas been previously described) as soon as the action of the secondtoggle is completed. In the vacuum cocking operation a tongue I9I on theion the closing action. Such a construction may comprise a bracket I94on the traction member on which a rod I95 is supported. The rod I95includes a piston I96 working in a cylinder I 9! which has anopen endI98. The rod I95 extends beyond the piston as at I99 and passes throughthe aperture 200 in the end of the cylinder.

The portion I99 is preferably tapered. When the door closes the pistonI96 moves in the cylinder and forces air through the aperture 200. Asthe door closing action nears completion the end I99 enters the aperture200 thus causing air in the cylinder to be compressed to produce acushioning effect.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24 whereinthe door closing portion is omitted. The modified construction comprisesa door control mechanism I0 which includes a control device I9, a bumperdevice 20' and a latch device 2I. The control device I9 is similar tothe device I9 and includes a similar traction member 22 which is movedby a link (not shown) in a manner similar to the movement of the member22 so that as the door moves the traction member slides thereon. Thetraction member includes a slot 29, roller 30 supported on a pin 3 Iwhich also pivotally supports a lever 32 similar to the lever 32 andwhich includes teeth 34' engageable by a dog 35.

The dog 35' instead of consisting of two parts consists of a singlemember pivotally mounted on a pin 36 and urged to engaged position by aspring 4|.

The lever 32 is shifted by a spring 42' and at one end includes a pivot6| which pivotally engages a second lever 62'. The lever 62' includes aslot 61' which has a shoulder 68 which is adapted to be engaged by aroller I0 mounted on a rocker arm II. A spring I2 shown as mounted onthe pivot GI urges the lever 62' downwardly. The traction member 22includes a notch 14 engageable by a dog I5 and also includes a notch 80engageable by a dog 8I A control member 9I' extends along the inner faceof the outer edge of the door and engages a pivot 98' on the rocker armII. A spring 94 normally urges the control member upwardly. The bumperdevices 20' are identical with those previously described and thecontrol member 9| is connected to the bumper devices and operates themin the manner already set forth.

The latch device 2 I is similar in all respects to the latch devicepreviously described and operates in the same manner.

The operation of the modification with the exception that this is nodoor closing action is the same as that previously described.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, a bumper on one of said members and engaging the other memberto urge the door to open position, latch means to hold the door memberclosed, means under control of the speed of the vehicle to actuate thelatch means to release the door member and means to release the pressureof the bumper on the other member prior to the movement of the latchmeans to door releasing position.

2. In a door construction for automotive vehicles including a framemember and a door member, a latch on one of the members adapted to bemoved to engage the other member, means on one member shiftable toengage the other member to urge the door member open and thereby totighten the latch against its engaged member, means to shift saidshiftable means, means to prevent action of the shifting means and meansto relieve the preventing means after the latch is moved to engagedposition.

3. In a construction for motor vehicles including a body member having adoor opening and having a door member hinged at one side of the opening,coacting means on the door member and body member to move the doormember to a partially closed position and other means coacting with thefirst means and operable when the door member assumes the mentionedpartially closed position to move said door member to a fully closedposition.

4. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, means to hold the door member closed, means to move said doormember to closed position, means for urging said door member to openposition and means coacting with said moving means to actuate saidurging means.

5. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, coacting means on said door member and body member to urge saiddoor member from a partially closed to a closed position, means toenergize said urging means, means normally preventing actuation of theurging means and means to release said urging means when the door memberreaches a partly closed position.

6. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, coacting means on the door and body members operable to movesaid door member to a closed position and manually releasable. speedcontrolled, catch means coacting with said moving means to hold saiddoor member closed.

7. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, coacting means on the door and body members to move said doormember from a partly closed to a closed position, means operable byswinging of the door member to cock said moving means, means enablingsaid door member to swing freely after the moving means is cooked andmeans operable when the door member reaches a partly closed position tocause said moving means to act.

8. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, means coacting on the door and body members to hold the doormember against opening from a partially closed position, means operablewhen the door member assumes the mentioned artially closed position tomove said door member to a fully closed position and means actuated bymovement of the door member to energize the moving means.

9. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, means on said door member engaging means on said body member tourge said door member from a partially closed to a closed position,means to energize said urging means, means normally preventing actuationof the urging means, means enabling the door member to swing LLUunimpeded after the urging means is energized and means to cause saidurging means to act when the door member reaches a partly closedposition.

10. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, bumper means on one member engaging the other member, operatingmeans to cause relative movement between one of the members and thebumper means to compress the bumper means and means operable by themovement of the door member to energize the operating means.

11. In a construction for motor vehicles including a body having a dooropening and having a door hinged at one side of the opening, means onsaid door engaging means on said body to move said door to a partiallyclosed position, other moving means to move the door from the partlyclosed position to a fully closed position, means to energize saidmoving means, means normally preventing actuation of the moving means,means enabling the door to swing unimpeded after the moving means isenergized and means to cause said moving means to act.

12. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, a bumper movable on one of said 4 members and engaging theother member to urge the door member to open position, means to actuatethe bumper to engaged position and latch means to hold the bumper inengaged position.

13. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, bumper means movably mounted on one of said members to engagethe other member, means to urge said bumper means against the othermember and means to cause the urging means to act when the door memberreaches a closed position.

14. In a. construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, a latch for the door member, spaced bumpers movable on one ofthe members to urge the door member to open position and to therebyincrease the pressure on the latch, a toggle member, means to straightenthe toggle member, and means whereby said toggle member moves saidbumpers.

15. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, coacting means on the door and body members operable to movesaid door member to a closed position and handle releasable meanscoacting with said moving means to hold said door member closed, abumper movable on the door member to engage the body member and meanswhereby said moving means moves said bumper.

16. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, coacting means on the door and body members to move said doormember to a latched position, means to render said moving. means active,means to cause said moving means to act, a cam bolt on the door membermovable to engage the body member and means coacting with the movingmeans to move the cam bolt.

MUCH b l 17. In an automotive vehicle construction, a frame member, adoor member, a bolt slidable on one member to advance position to engagethe other member to hold the door closed, a bumper movable on one memberto engage the other member, means to shift the bumper and means toprevent actuation of the shifting means until the bolt has moved toadvanced position.

18. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, a traction member pivotally engaging the body member andextending into the door member, a lever pivotally connected to the doormember, means urging the lever in one direction, a second lever pivotedon said first lever at one end thereof, said second lever having apivotal connection at the other end with the traction member, saidconnection aifording a toggle action whereby when the lever is moved thedoor member is moved to closed position, a dash pot to control themovement of the levers, a pair of bumpers pivoted on the door member,operating means for shifting the bumpers, means on said operating meanspivotally engaging the second lever to afford a second toggle actionafter the first toggle action is completed, handle released catch meansengaging said traction member to hold the door member closed and otherhandle released catch means engaging said bumper operating means.

19. In a control device for motor vehicle doors, a bumper, means toshift the bumper, means to energize the shifting means, means normallypreventing actuation of the shifting means and means to release theshifting means when the door reaches a partly closed position.

20. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, means operable to move the door member to a closed position,means operated by door movement to energize the moving means, latchmeans to hold the door member after it has moved to closed position andspeed controlled, manually operated means to release the latch means.

21. In a construction for automotive vehicles including a body memberhaving a door opening and having a door member hinged at one side of theopening, said door member having a latch adapted to engage the bodymember, means to urge the door member to latched position, means toenergize said urging means, means normally preventing actuation of theurging means, and means operable by door movement to release the urgingmeans.

22. In a vehicle door latch construction, a bolt, a bumper movable tourge the bolt into engagement with a strike, means to move the bolt toengaged position, means operable after the bolt is engaged to tightenthe bumper and thereby increase the pressure of the bolt against thestrike and speed controlled means to release the bolt.

23. In a motor vehicle door latch construction, a bolt, handle operatedmeans to release the bolt, a bumper, means adapted to urge the bolt intotightly engaged position, and means to decrease the pressure of thebumper prior to the release of the bolt by the handle operated means.

24. In an automotive vehicle door latch construction, means adapted tocoact with a door frame at the hinged side of a door to move the door topartly closed position, and means at the HUUril free side of the doorand independent of the first means and adapted to coact with the doorframe to move the door from the partly closed position to a fully closedposition.

25. In a. vehicle door latch, means to move the door to closed position,a. bolt, means to move the bolt to engaged position, means to tightenthe bolt pressure after it is in engaged position, and means coactingwith the door moving means to actuate the tightening means.

